Students Present Research on Media Role in Palestinian History

History and Archaeology students presented on May 28, 2016 research papers on the role of media in covering the political events in Palestine during the Nakba and Naksa. The papers were in a students’ conference held at Birzeit University.

Dean of the Faculty of Arts Majdi Malki emphasized the importance of such conferences that seek to provide a basic understanding of Palestinian history. “Our history was made by people who faced real challenges. The information presented today reminds us how this knowledge is useful to create our future,” he said.

Department of History and Archaeology chair Musa Sroor spoke of the department’s commitment to encouraging a multi-disciplinary approach to research projects. “This conference is a meaningful milestone for Palestinian studies and is an excellent opportunity for knowledge exchange among students, with the best university scholars interested in these issues.”

Seminar students showcased their work in panel discussions divided among five sessions, the first headed by Al Quds University Modern History Professor Taysir Jabara. Students explained the implications for the Palestinian identity after the Partition Plan and the manner in which the Palestinian media covered these events. The studies reviewed the British Mandate, which began in 1937, through the period that partition was brought up officially by the British Peel Commission and then explained the impact of UN Resolution 181 in 1947. In addition, the papers described the media coverage of Jordan’s disengagement from the West Bank in 1988.

The second session discussed how Israel confiscated Palestinian land, alluding to the role of Arab landowners who had sold their properties to Jews. History and archaeology professor Muhsin Yousef headed the session.

Research papers on the Palestinian economy during the British Mandate, the Palestinian boycott of Israeli products during 1926 and 1936, and closure of schools in 1967 were discussed in the third session led by history and archeology professor Rana Barakat.

Another two students presented their research on the Jewish insurgency in Mandatory Palestine from 1939 until 1948 and the political conflicts in Jaffa that occurred between January and May 1948. The session was headed by Ibrahim Abu Lughod Institute for International Studies researcher Raed Bader.

The conference concluded in a session directed by history and archeology professor Amer Barakat. Students presented a case study on the role of Al Karama battle in 1968. The session also explored how Al Quds newspaper framed Palestinian-Jordanian relations between 1968-1970.